​FRANCONIA (Ger.Franken, orFrankenland,land of the Franks), an old duchy and afterwarda circle of the German empire. In the5th century it formed a part of the Thuringiankingdom, on its dismemberment fell to theFranks, and on the breaking up of theCarlovingian empire to Germany. In the latterempire it rose to foremost importance, andfive Franconian dukes were elected emperors(Conrad I. and II., Henry III., IV., and V.).It then embraced extensive lands, chieflybetween the Rhine and the Bohemian mountains,but subsequently was weakened by divisions,was broken up into small territories, anddisappeared as a duchy. In 1512 Maximilian I.erected a part of it into a circle of the empire,including the ecclesiastical dominions ofWürzburg, Bamberg, and Eichstädt, the principalitiesof Baireuth and Anspach, and the imperialcities of Nuremberg, Schweinfurt, Rothenburg,Weissenburg, and Windsheim. During and afterthe Napoleonic wars it was partitioned amongWürtemberg, Baden, Hesse-Cassel, Saxony, andBavaria, the last named state receiving thelargest portion, and still retaining the name inthe three districts of Upper, Middle, and LowerFranconia. —Upper Franconia (Ger.Oberfranken) nearly corresponds with the formercircle of Upper Main, and lies in the N. E.part of the kingdom, bordering on Bohemiaand Saxony; area, 2,702 sq. m.; pop. in 1872,540,963. It is a mountain region, occupied inthe east by a portion of the Fichtelgebirge, andrich in gypsum, marble, gold, silver, lead, andiron. Agriculture and cattle raising are carriedon with success. Capital, Baireuth. —MiddleFranconia (Ger.Mittelfranken) comprises thatportion of territory anciently known as thecircle of Rezat, and includes the formermargraviate of Anspach, the bishopric of Eichstädt,and part of Baireuth; area, 2,918 sq. m.; pop.in 1872, 583,417. It touches Würtemberg onthe west. It is intersected by branches of theFranconian Jura, and a small portion of themountainous district is too rough for tillage,but three fourths of the circle is in a high stateof cultivation, producing the grape, tobacco,pasturage, and hops. There are few minerals,but important manufactures are carried on inmost of the towns. Capital, Nuremberg. —Lower Franconia (Ger.Unterfranken), nearlyidentical with the former circle of LowerMain, comprises the old bishopric of Würzburgand part of that of Fulda, with several smallerterritories; area, 3,342 sq. m.; pop. in 1872,586,122. It is bounded N. E. by the Saxeduchies, E. by Upper and Middle Franconia,S. by Würtemberg and Baden, W. byDarmstadt, and N. W. by Prussia. The N. part istraversed by the Rhön mountains, and theS. W. by the Spessart. There are severalextensive forests, but the plains and riverbottoms are well cultivated, producing grain, potatoes,hops, and the grape. Capital, Würzburg.